Paul T. Kwami is the Musical Director and Curb-Beaman Chair of The Fisk University Jubilee Singers®.
He was born in Ghana, West Africa, where his musical training started
under his late father, T. W. Kwami. He is a graduate of Mawuli Secondary School, Ho, Akropong
Presbyterian Teacher's Training College and the National Academy of Music, Winneba. Kwami
taught music in Ghana before migrating to the United States in 1983.
He enrolled as a student at Fisk University in the same year and promptly joined the Fisk Jubilee Singers®.
Kwami graduated from Fisk in 1985, and continued his music studies at Western Michigan University in
Kalamazoo, Michigan graduating with a Master of Music degree in 1987. Kwami is currently a
candidate for the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the American Conservatory of Music in
Chicago, Illinois.
In 1994, he was named Musical Director of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, becoming
the first African to hold this position. He also served as the Chairman of the Fisk Music
Department from 1996 to 2003. Under his directorship, the Singers have received numerous
awards including the induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2000, a Grammy Nomination
and a Dove Award received for Poor Man Lazarus on the 2002 CD, In Bright Mansions. Other
awards include induction into the Music City Walk of Fame, the Governor's Folklife Heritage
Award and the Recording Academy Honors. Kwami is also Executive Producer of the recording
entitled Rise, Shine! Fisk Jubilee Singers Live In Concert and Co-Executive Producer of In
Bright Mansions. The recording of the latter led to William Morris Agency becoming the booking
agents for the Fisk Jubilee Singers.
As a composer and arranger, Kwami's music has been
performed by the Fisk Jubilee Singers and vocal music students at Fisk University. His
arrangements have also been featured in the documentary, The Fisk Jubilee Singers: Sacrifice
and Glory. He has been interviewed for the following documentaries: The Story of Gospel Music,
a BBC production, Ain't That Good News: The Fisk Jubilee Singers which was produced by
Louisiana Public Broadcasting, A Spiritual Journey with the Fisk Jubilee Singers produced by
WKRN-TV, Nashville, TN and A Sacred Journey produced by Sunrise Music Group, Nashville, TN. He
has worked with the Tennessee Arts Commission in presenting the ensemble in Tennessee's major
performing venues, including Laura Turner Hall in the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Nashville
TN. This collaboration resulted in the production of a first-class educational curriculum,
which has been distributed throughout schools in the state of Tennessee.
Under Kwami's directorship the Fisk Jubilee Singers have performed in many renowned venues including Apollo
Theatre, the historic Plymouth Congregational Church in New York, Kennedy Center, Smithsonian
Institute, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and several Spanish and Italian halls. The Fisk
Jubilee Singers also have performed with Faith Hill, Hank Williams Jr., Shania Twain and
Natalie Cole. Other such performances include appearances of the Fisk Jubilee Singers with Neil
Young in the Live 8 concert in Canada, Farm Aid 2005 and the taping of his movie "Prairie Wind"
at the Ryman Auditorium. In July 2007, Kwami led the Fisk Jubilee Singers to Ghana on a sacred
journey for the first time in the history of the ensemble. The ensemble performed in the
National Theatre located in Accra and the historic Elmina Castle.
Kwami is the first recipient
of the Curb-Beaman Chair for the directorship of the Fisk Jubilee Singers®. He serves as a
board member for the following organizations: W.O. Smith Community Music School, Nashville, TN;
Artistic Policy Committee of Nashville Symphony Orchestra; Nashville Advisory Council, Gospel
Music Association Foundation and the Schermerhorn Symphony Committee in Nashville, TN.
He is
married to Susanna E. Kwami and they have three children: Paul E., Delali and Rachel. His
hobbies include racquet-ball and flower gardening.
Professional membership: American Choral Directors' Association
Chorus America, National Association of Negro Musicians and Gospel Music
Association.
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